Quote of the day
"It goes directly to the underground economy, and it gives employers who are not complying with the law an unfair competitive advantage over someone who is complying with the law."
California Labor Commissioner Angela Bradstreet, after a recent enforcement sweep of Sacramento-area nail salons
State Puts the Screws to Sacramento Nail Salons
In recent sweeps of 17 beauty and nail salons in Sacramento, the state Division of Labor Standards and Enforcement issues 16 citations to shop owners for illegally classifying workers as independent contractors, fining employers $1,000 for each employee not covered by workers’ compensation. By Ngoc Nguyen, Sacramento Bee [may require registration] Go to the Full Story…
Judge Rejects Beer Delivery Man’s Injury Claim
A 22-year-old former employee of a beer distributing company is sentenced to 60 days in the Placer County jail and ordered to pay $4,000 in restitution and fines for collecting workers’ compensation for an injury he sustained playing basketball. By Art Campos, Sacramento Bee [may require registration] Go to the Full Story…
Federal Appeals Court Allows WTC Relief Workers’ Suit to Proceed
A unanimous decision by a three-judge panel for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals rules that lawsuits by over 10,000 World Trade Center relief workers, who claim they suffer from respiratory complications as a result of their work in New York following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, can move forward against New York City and contractors under its jurisdiction, as well as the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. By Phil Gusman, National Underwriter
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South Dakota High Court Rejects Worker’s Appeal
A South Dakota state worker who claims that his chronic pain and loss of balance is the result of a 2003 work-related back injury loses his appeal to the state Supreme Court, which unanimously concluded that an administrative law judge who heard the case reasonably gave more weight to the state’s medical expert than to other doctors who had been consulted by the worker. By Terry Woster, Sioux Falls Argus Leader
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Ohio BWC Okays First Rate Cut Since 2001
The Ohio Bureau of Worker’s Compensation approves the first reduction in premium rates for private employers in seven years. The 5-percent overall rate cut takes effect July 1.
Go to the full story in the Dayton Business Journal
Go to the full story by Scott Suttell, Crain’s Cleveland Business
Nebraska Wrestles with Covering Witnesses of Workplace Violence
Nebraska Sen. Abbie Cornett says a violent act like last December’s mall shootings in Omaha is a good example of the need for a bill that would make witnesses of violent acts eligible for workers’ compensation for mental injuries. But some counter that bill could dramatically expand workers’ comp and should be narrowed to first responders including police, emergency medical personnel and firefighters.
Go to the full story by AP via Omaha World-Herald
Go to the full story by AP via Sioux City Journal